SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF

Published 9:00 pm, Friday, March 19, 2004

MAURY ISLAND -- Residents who opposed the expansion of a local gravel mine dodged another bullet this week when King County rejected a Glacier Northwest proposal to expand its operation on the island's east side.

Glacier now has 21 days from that day to appeal the decision to the state Shoreline Hearings Board in Olympia. Ron Summers, Glacier general manager, said his lawyers are still reviewing King County's decision, but said, "Yes, we'll probably appeal. We're not done over there."

The gravel company would mine the site in part to supply material that would be barged across Puget Sound to the third runway project at Sea-Tac Airport. Permits for gravel mines are getting more difficult to obtain as the Puget Sound area's population continues to expand into rural areas.

King County Councilman Dow Constantine, whose district includes Vashon and Maury islands, applauded the county's denial, citing the potential for damage to herring spawning grounds, eelgrass beds and runs of salmon that depend on both along the east side of Maury Island.